The Catskill Chronicle

WASHINGTON, DC (December 22, 2011) – Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) has announced his nominees to the US service academies for the Class of 2016.

After a thorough examination process in which his office reviewed numerous applications, Hinchey selected 23 local high school students whom he believes would excel at the US Air Force, Military, Naval and Merchant Marine Academies.

"Every year it is such a great honor to nominate young men and women from our area to our nation’s service academies," Hinchey said. "The 23 nominees this year underwent a thorough review and application process. Their dedication to community and country is without question. They have excelled in scholastics, physical fitness and extracurricular activities. They represent the very best of what our area has to offer to our prestigious service academies, and I wish them all the very best with the rest of the application process."

The selection process for the nominees was based on each student’s scholastic record, physical fitness, extracurricular activities, professional recommendations and a personal interview. The process is highly competitive and the admissions departments of the service academies make the final decision on acceptance.

Area residents included in Hinchey’s nominees are:

Vincent Webbe (Liberty) – Liberty High School – US Air Force Academy

Amanda Bertholf (Liberty) – Liberty High School – US Military Academy

Brian Hazen (Glen Spey) – Eldred Junior Senior High School – US Military Academy

Megan Rausch (Glen Spey) – Home School and SUNY Maritime College – US Naval Academy

Members of the House and Senate may nominate eligible candidates for appointments to the nation’s service academies. Senators nominate applicants statewide, while representatives, such as Hinchey, nominate applicants only from the congressional district they represent.

Students who are interested in being nominated by Hinchey in the future should first contact the service academy of their choice during their junior year in high school and then request a nomination from the congressman’s office shortly thereafter. The deadline for the Class of 2017 nominations is October 19, 2012. For more information on the application process, students and parents are encouraged to visit Hinchey’s website page on academy nominations at http://hinchey.house.gov.